Last week, on February 11, 2023, an extraordinary robotic surgery occurred. The patient—Paul Buxton, 62, from Gibraltar—is celebrating this historic medical achievement. Remote operation Professor Prokar Dasgupta, one of the world’s foremost robotic urological surgeons, carried out the procedure from London. The patient was located 2,400 kilometers (1,500 miles) away. This was the UK’s first long-distance robotic surgery on a patient.
Paul Buxton, owner of a public transport company in Gibraltar, had recently been given a terminal prognosis for his prostate cancer. He is originally from Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset but moved to Gibraltar 40 years ago. The live surgery was performed using their state of the art Toumai Robotic System. This cutting-edge technology allowed Professor Dasgupta to remotely control the surgical instruments through a tangle of fiber-optic cables and a secondary 5G connection.
Thanks to this innovative telesurgery, Buxton did not have to travel all the way to London. Now, he doesn’t need to worry about waiting to be added to the NHS waiting list for treatment. This operation is a groundbreaking technological advance in medicine. It offers essential backing to patients from places such as Gibraltar, who frequently need to go overseas for advanced treatment because of a lack of accessible domestic services.
A specialized team in Gibraltar was on call throughout the operation. They took immediate action to protect patients against any potential connection because of this link. Luckily, their internet connection held strong during the eventful surgery enabling Eva and her team to perform an incredible procedure with precision.
During that time, and still today, Buxton expressed how happy and lucky he felt with the care he received.
“I really felt well looked after and I am feeling fantastic,” – Paul Buxton
To the patient, the decision to go ahead with robotic surgery was a “no-brainer.” He went on to express his enthusiasm at being able to cement his place in “medical history.” This sentiment captures his own trajectory, but the potential impact of these types of technologies on healthcare at large.
Professor Dasgupta is set to perform another similar procedure on March 14, which will be live-streamed to an audience of 20,000 world-renowned urological surgeons. He commented on the possibilities of this emerging technology to change the landscape of healthcare around the world.
“I think it is very, very exciting; the humanitarian benefit is going to be significant,” – Professor Prokar Dasgupta
Gibraltar’s only hospital, St Bernard’s at Europort, frequently requires that residents travel overseas for higher specialized medical care. This recent surgery not only showcases advancements in robotic surgery but highlights the potential for improving healthcare accessibility for individuals living in remote locations.